Worthington not getting complacent

11 October 2010 05:00

Nigel Worthington has given his players a history lesson in the hope they will not be embarrassed as he once was with Northern Ireland.

Worthington played at left-back when the Faroe Islands held Northern Ireland to a draw at Windsor Park in a European Championship qualifier, a match the home side were expected to win comfortably. On Tuesday, 19 years on, the national teams meet in Toftir with important points again at stake and Northern Ireland once more clear favourites.

Reflecting on the drawn match in 1991, Northern Ireland manager Worthington said: "I remember it was a Saturday afternoon when we don't perform that well. It was quite warm. I was part of a team that thought maybe it was going to be easy. You cannot afford to do that."

He added: "If you go into any game thinking it is going to be easy I always think you can get surprised. After a decent start that is the last thing we want. There is still a lot of football to be played. There will be a lot of tough games.

"It is not about revenge on the Faroes as far as I am concerned. It is just about being professional and doing our job properly. We want to build on our start so that we go into the three-month break in a good position in the table."

Northern Ireland have found themselves sharing the same Torshavn hotel as the home team - who have lost their opening four games in the group.

They face a lengthy trip to the tiny clifftop stadium in Toftir. Worthington is happy about and wants no excuses against a side managed by former Republic of Ireland boss Brian Kerr.

Worthington explained: "Our players can't be saying we had an hour's journey before the game. The Faroes are doing exactly the same thing. I said to the players the mental approach has to be, no distractions.

"People are saying it is done and dusted. I have been in the game far too long to know that is not the case. We have a job to do.

"We have just to see three points and go for it. The Faroes will work hard and close you down. It is a British mentality."